Hat stacking device



y 1952 M. B. SORENSEN 2,595,722

HAT STACKING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 111 veil tor MHTN El. Sn \IiNsEN Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Martin B.v Sorensen, Merced, Calif.

Appli'cationJuly 19, 1946, Serial No. 684,873

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a device for use in haberdasheries to support a plurality of hats in vertical stacked and partially nested relation.

An object of the invention is to provide a very simple and efficient device of the above kind which may be readily used and economically manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above kind including simple and efiicient means for visually indicating the size of the hats in the stack.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of one form of. hat stacking device constructed in accordance with the present invention from a length of wire.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation more clearly showing the size indicator, the casing of the indicator being partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a rear perspective view showing the device applied to a first hat, and

Figure 5 is a front perspective view showing the device applied to a first hat and supporting a second hat above and in partially nested relation to the first hat.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present hat stacking device comprises a substantially C-shaped frame member 5 of a size to closely embrace and extend about a considerable part of the crown 6 of a hat while resting upon the brim I thereof adjacent the crown. The C-shaped member 5 has spaced outwardly projecting rest members 8 at opposite sides of the top thereof for contact with the underside of the brim I of a second similar hat, to support the latter above the first named hat. The C-shaped member 5 is also of a depth substantially less than that of the hat crown, whereby to support the second hat Withjthe crown of the first hat partially nested within the crown thereof.

In practice, the device is applied to the first hat as described, and as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The second hat is then placed over the first hat with the crown of the latter partially nested within the crown of the second hat and with the brim of the second hat resting upon the rest members of the device as shown in Figure 5. By using a plurality of the devices in the same general way, a plurality of more than two hats may be supported in stacked and nested relation as shown and described with respect to may be placed upon the second hat of Figure 5 for supporting a third hat above and in nested relation thereto, and so on.

As shown, the device may be made of a single length of flexible resilient wire, the length of wire being bent to provide spaced upper and lower substantially C-shaped parts a and b connected together at their ends by integral upright parts 0. The upper part a is offset as shown to form the rests 8 and upwardly projecting contact members 9. The upwardly projecting contact members 9 are provided in spaced relation at the top of the member 5 and at opposite sides of the latter for contact with opposite sides of the crown of the first hat at points spaced from and above its brim. However, while the illustrated embodiment is formed of a length of wire, it will be understood that the device may be formed of a strip of suitable flexible and resilient sheet material. The device is preferably resilient to snu'gly embrace the hat crown and flexible for ready adjustment to hats of different sizes by slightly expanding or contracting the same.

A size indicator I0 is attached to the device in a vertical position, preferably at the front of said device. As shown, the size indicator is preferably adjustable and includes a casing H having spaced front and rear walls, the front wall having a display opening I2. An indicator disc I3 is rotatably mounted at 14 between the walls of the casing II, and this disc has marginal graduated size indicia Ill-which are selectively registrable with the display opening l2 to indicate the particular size of the hats in a given stack produced by use of the present device. The illustrated construction shows the casing H in the form of a loop passing over the upper part a and under the lower part b.

It will be seen that the device may be manually spread or expanded and then readily placed about the crown of a hat, the ends of the device being released so that the device closely embraces the hat crown and the lower part b rests upon the hat brim adjacent the crown thereof. The contact members 9 engage the crown of the hat at opposite sides thereof, and the rest members 8 project laterally from said crown in position to engage the brim of a second hat for supporting the latter above and in partially nested relation to the first hat. Also, the contact members 9 extend into andcontact the inner surface of the crown of the second hat at opposite sides. The hats are thus effectively held in stacked relation and supported in partially nested relation.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, manner of use and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

A hat stacking device comprising a, flexible-resilient wire frame substantially C-shaped for spreading apart to place the same around the crown of one hat, said frame comprising spaced upper and lower hat brim engaging parts connected at the ends thereof, the upper part having opposite pairs of hat brim rest portions offset outwardly of said part, and saidupper part having inwardly and upwardly offset hat keeper portions for a hat the brim of which is engaged with said upper part, said inwardly and upwardly offset portions connecting the hat brim rest portions in each pair.

MARTIN B. SORENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 35,246 Stowell Oct. 29, 1901 361,833 Newman Apr. 26, 1887 520,145 Newman May 22, 1894 954,391 Heagany Apr. 5, 1910 968,899 Tyler Aug. 30, 1910 1,969,799 Johnston Aug. 14, 1934 2,058,144 Fletcher et a1 Oct. 20, 1936 2,177,546 Johnson Oct. 24, 1939 2,257,057 Huye Sept. 23, 1941 

